MANILA, Philippines—How do Filipinos celebrate Christmas? Let’s count the ways.

In Manila, radio stations play Christmas songs as early as September, the Christmas tree is up in November and by December, the streets are ablaze with Tivoli lights.

In Pampanga, towns compete in a giant lantern festival. Then there’s the belen (nativity scene) showcase—Bicol style. Nationwide, there are dawn Masses starting Dec. 16, parades and food galore.

For balikbayans and foreign tourists, there’s no need to travel to the provinces to experience Philippine holiday celebrations as the Department of Tourism (DOT) has revived Wow Philippines to give local and foreign tourists a glimpse of how Christmas is celebrated throughout the country.

Romulo delos Reyes, DOT director for special projects, said the Christmas-themed festivities in Intramuros is an opportunity to highlight the best of Filipino culture, food, music and products. After all, nobody comes close to Filipinos when it comes to celebrating Christmas, he said.

“Every weekend, we will have a Christmas festival. One weekend, we will have Pastores Bicol (a musical reenactment of the nativity). On the last weekend, we will feature the giant lantern festival of Pampanga,” Delos Reyes said.

He added that the Christmas exhibition at Wow Philippines aims to inject national interest or pride of place.

“It’s really about bringing back people to Intramuros and developing a sense of pride in being Filipino,” Delos Reyes said.

Sen. Richard Gordon, former Tourism secretary, said the Christmas festival in Intramuros should spur domestic tourism.

He urged families to bring their children to the Walled City this holiday season instead of the malls.

“It’s cheaper here and it’s educational,” Gordon said.

Aside from the various festivals, there will be pop concerts, zarzuelas and plays presented on the small stage on Anda Street, he said.

The tourism department also set up bazaars in the Wow Philippines tent showcasing regional products under the trade department’s “One Town, One Product” project.

Tourists who want to sample Filipino traditional fare and different kinds of rice cakes can check out the food stalls located in the compound.

Bambi Harper, head of the Intramuros Administration, said there will be an exhibit of nativity scenes crafted by the late national artist Ramon Obusan sometime this month.

On Friday night, throngs of tourists were treated to an exhibit of culture and way of life of the Mayoyao and Kalinga tribes. There was also a Hispanic “bachelor pad” complete with reproduction furniture and photographs.

The model houses featured “residents” in full costume who danced and played indigenous musical instruments.

The Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group also graced Friday night festivities with their thanksgiving dances and rituals at the Bahay Tagalog, Torogan, Kalinga Village. The UP Singing Ambassadors performed Christmas songs.

Capping the evening was a parade of floats depicting historical themes.

The parade, dubbed “Pinoy, ’Pinas,” will be held Fridays to Sundays, starting at 6:30 p.m. A grand fireworks display will highlight the parade all Saturdays of December.

The tourism department hopes that the renewed interest in Wow Philippines will continue even after Christmas. Delos Reyes said they plan to hold regional festivals next year.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said the revival of Wow Philippines, which stopped four years ago due to stiff competition from the Baywalk area and lackluster development, should encourage the public to return to the Walled City.

“Intramuros will be a one-stop venue where domestic and foreign tourists can experience the best of our 7,107 islands,” Durano said.